Programmable ticketing system

• US 7,765,128 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leisure Pass Group Limited
• Original Assignee: Smart Destinations Incorporated (Big Bus Tours Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Edward, McLaughlin, Kevin, Dahl, Helga Cecilia, Brooks, Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): DUNHAM, JASON B
• Application Number:
  US10/896,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,197 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

A smart-card based system and methods to control access to a plurality of attractions within a geographical area. The system may include one or more reward terminals that are located at attractions and are configured to read smart cards presented to them and, assuming the card is valid for that location, allow the card holder to access the attraction. Each smart card may be programmed with a product code that defines the attractions at which the card may be used. Product codes may be stored in a central database along with a list of the attractions associated with the each product code. The list of attractions may be updated as desired, thereby updating and changing the attractions at which any given card may be used.

Claims

1. A manager system that permits access to a plurality of attractions, the system comprising:

a network interface configured to;

receive data corresponding to actual use of reward terminals to access respective attractions of the plurality of attractions for a time period, the reward terminals being located in proximity to the plurality of attractions, being configured to access the respective attractions using at least one product code, the data identifying at least one attraction; and

provide at least one product definition to the reward terminals, the at least one product definition including associations between the at least one product code and the respective attractions, whereby a change in the associations between the at least one product code and the respective attractions changes the access to the respective attractions via the reward terminals using the at least one product code;

a database to store the at least one product definition;

a database to store the data corresponding to the actual use of the reward terminals to access the attractions; and

a controller to calculate an aggregated compensation for each attraction based on the actual use of the reward terminals to access the respective attraction by a plurality of users, wherein the controller does not compensate the attractions based on the actual use of the reward terminals at a time of the actual use of the reward terminals via a card.

2. The manager system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one product definition includes a list of the plurality of attractions.

3. The manager system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network interface is configured to enable periodic data transfer between the database and the reward terminals.

4. The product manager system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reward terminals include smart card readers.

5. The product manager system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one attraction of the plurality of attractions is constrained in time.

6. The product manager system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one attraction of the plurality of attractions is constrained in frequency of use.

7. The manager system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reward terminals enable each of the respective attractions to individually control access to the attraction.

8. An access system for use with user codes comprising:

a controller configured to be coupled to at least one reward terminal and configured to provide information to the at least one reward terminal, receive data of actual use to access a plurality of attractions from the at least one reward terminal once every predetermined time period, and calculate an aggregated compensation for each attraction based on the actual use of the reward terminals to access the respective attraction by a plurality of users, the at least one reward terminal being configured to access rewards using at least one user code, wherein the controller does not compensate the attractions based on the actual use of the reward terminals at a time of the actual use of the reward terminals via a card; and

a database, coupled to the controller, that stores the information to be provided to the at least one reward terminal and the data received from the at least one reward terminal;

wherein the information includes an attraction list of attractions accessible from the at least one reward terminal and a product list of attractions that are accessible with each user code, whereby a change in the product list of attractions changes the rewards that are accessible with the at least one user code; and

wherein the data includes a list of user codes and attractions, the user codes associated with users who access rewards for the attractions via the reward terminal during the predetermined time period.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the database is configured to communicate with the at least one reward terminal with predetermined periodicity to provide the information to the reward terminal and to receive the data from the at least one reward terminal.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the predetermined periodicity is once a day.

11. The access system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the user codes are encoded on programmable smart cards.

12. The access system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each attraction included in the attraction list and product list is defined by a unique attraction code.

13. The access system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the unique attraction code includes information defining at least one access restriction for the attraction.

14. The access system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one access restriction includes a predetermined number of times that access to the attraction is valid for each user code.

15. The access system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one access restriction includes a predetermined time period during which access to the attraction is valid.

16. The access system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predetermined time period begins on a first actual use by a user.

17. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one reward terminal being further configured to enable each of the respective attractions to individually control access to the attraction based on the rewards.

18. A computer-implemented method of managing access to at least one tourist attraction, the method comprising:

associating a user code with a product, the product associated with the at least one tourist attraction;

receiving the user code at a reward terminal, the reward terminal being located in proximity to the at least one tourist attraction and being configured to access a reward associated with the at least one tourist attraction using the user code, whereby a change in the product changes the rewards accessible via the reward terminal using the at least one user code;

recording, by the reward terminal, the use of the user code to access the reward associated with the at least one tourist attraction; and

transmitting the use of the user code to a controller for calculation of an aggregated compensation for the at least one tourist attraction based on the use of the reward terminals to access the at least one tourist attraction by a plurality of users, wherein the controller does not compensate the attractions based on the actual use of the reward terminals at a time of the actual use of the reward terminals via a card.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein associating the user code with the product includes associating a user code with a product definition that comprises a list at least one tourist attraction.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising periodically exchanging information between the reward terminal and a remote system.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein receiving the user code at the reward terminal includes receiving the user code at a reward terminal comprising a smart card reader.

22. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein associating the user code with the product includes associating a user code with a product that comprises at least one tourist attraction that is constrained in time.

23. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein associating the user code with the product includes associating a user code with a product that comprises at least one tourist attraction that is constrained in frequency of use.

24. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the reward terminal being further configured to enable the at least one tourist attraction to individually control access to the respective tourist attraction.